Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-16
2001-04-17
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S046000, C280S731000, C280S732000, C180S271000, C180S282000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219606
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to automotive passenger restraint systems, and more particularly to a control method that differentiates deployment events from non-deployment events.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, automotive passenger restraint systems perform a number of functions including acceleration sensing, signal processing and analysis, and deployment of one or more restraint devices such as frontal or side air bags and seat belt pretensioners in response to a sensed crash event. Typically, the acceleration signal is monitored to detect a potential crash event, and then filtered or integrated over the course of the crash event to produce a velocity change or &Dgr;V signal. If the &Dgr;V signal exceeds a threshold, the crash event is determined to be sufficiently severe to warrant deployment of restraints. The threshold is typically time-dependent, and is calibrated based on data logged for different types of crash events, as well as data logged during rough road driving.
A problem with the above-described approach is that it is often difficult to synchronize the time progression of the crash (that is, the event clock or timer) with the actual crash event. Various algorithms have been developed for determining if and when the event clock should be reset to improve synchronization. As a result, it can be difficult to distinguish between deployment events and non-deployment events, particularly in the initial portion of the sensed event.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved deployment control method for a vehicular supplemental restraint system, wherein a deployment threshold is initially established at a predefined level, threshold adjustments are periodically determined in the course of the crash event based on one or more secondary measures of crash severity, and wherein the adjustments are applied to the deployment threshold at a time determined in relation to a predefined level of crash progression. In other words, deployment threshold adjustments are periodically determined based on identified characteristics of the crash signal and accumulated to form a net adjustment value, and the net adjustment value is not put into effect for purposes of deploying the restraints until expiration of a delay time initiated at a predefined level of crash progression. In a preferred implementation of the invention, the net adjustment value is put into effect for purposes of deploying the restraints prior to expiration of the delay time if certain secondary measures indicate that the crash is especially severe.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 36122 (1999-03-01), Mattes et al.
patent: 5014810 (1991-05-01), Mattes et al.
patent: 5538099 (1996-07-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5608628 (1997-03-01), Dresler et al.
patent: 5964817 (1999-10-01), Dalum et al.
patent: 5969599 (1999-10-01), Wessels et al.
patent: 5999871 (1999-12-01), Liu
Dalum Joseph Thomas
Wessels Gerhard F.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Funke Jimmy L.
Marc-Coleman Marthe
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